The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-09
STILL OPPOSING REFORMS.
How the Democrats Hope to Maintain
Partisan Control of the State Boards.
An Attack on Demagogic Legislation by
Senator Weir-Building Associations To
Be Affected by the Kellison Interest Bill.

ment or the State institutions was expressed oy
Senator yesterday when asked if there was
any truth in the report that his party did not in
tend to unite with the House in joint conven-
tons to elect trustees for the asylums and d.
rectors for the penitentiaries. "Why should
we" he replied. 1.-THE institutions managed
satisfactorily. The boards are Democratic and
better men could not be obtained. 1t is not to
the interest Of the State, think. to remove
men who have done wcll for those of whom we
know nothing. AS far as l can see there will be
no more joint conventions with Democratic Sem
ators or Representatives in them Yes. the in
situations will be run they have BEEN" A
gentleman of the same party, of official promi-
renee, but not in the General Assembly, when
told of this, said: THAT is nonsense. Our par
ty has done enough in making a record that it
Will be called upon to answer. To
go into joint convention for the purpose of elect
ing these State officers Is legal requirement
that cannot be set aside by a within of party
pediency. If the Democrats of the Senate and
House want to fatty disregard the law in this
respect they will stay out If they desire to
save themselves and party from further injury,
they will obey the law and go into joint con-
venton. There are no conditions by which they
can escape. 1t is provided that these officers
shall be elected, and that by the two houses
meeting jointly. Any other means
square violation of legal obligations for which
there is no possible excuse
The action of the Democratic Representa-
tives relative to the Grose bill providing for
better management for these institutions, is
part of the policy of the party to preserve the
refOrynatarv and hapavalapt hoor6o intact
as they are now constituted. They
DO not want any intermedding with
present affairs, but in order to accomplish
their purpose have sought to amend the Grose
bill by killing its non partisan features and Civ
ing the Governor full discretion as to the selec-
ton Of the trustees. In this, as usual. the
Democrats are proceeding on false pretenses in
claiming willingness to have the law changed,
but as their plans develop the purpose of party
expediency is fully defined in adjusting itself to
the refusal of the Democratic Senators to go
into any more joint conventions Another OBJ
ject is also apparent 1t is to use whatever ad
vantage discussions on this question may afford
In forostalling reports from the pending investi-
cation of the affairs Of those institutions. If
they cannot. as they know, obtain the substance
shadow of exculpation is to be tried by going
before the people with the plea. "As Demo
cratic Senators we saw no need to change the ex-
listing boards, and have refused to go into joint
convention" "As Democrats Representatives
we did believe in the efficacy Of
non-partisan management of the institutions nor
in the charges against the present boards, hence
we voted against the Grose bill It would not
prevent corruption, > the Democratic con-
troll has been pure and excellent, why should we
change the law?- Representative Parker I'M
Willingly got out Of his party's lines, yesterday,
in supporting the minority report on the Grose
bill. There is no Democratic sincerity in advo-
eating board of Ave for the insane asylums and
a board of three for the benevolent institutions,
but from the character of Representative
Parker's romar.g- one could infer that he thought
rascals would Do appointed, in any event. to
to control these institutions, and non partisan
board would not be more efficient in suppressing
corrupt practices than one selected by the Gov
ernor, who could use his own judgment whether
to stay within or 60 outside of his party for the
trustees. Representative Linck thought other
wise. He knew that non-part;san boards
would not pay thirty-two cents per
pound for butterine just because
the man who had it to soil was an active Demo
cratic politician. He had seen letter from q
gentleman high in authority written within the
last ten days, in which it was said that the
Democratic boards were paying the highest
prices for inferior products, sold BY Democratic
politicians, who were thus dishonesty profitine
through the advantages their party gave them
solely for political service and influence. The
Democrats, in their efforts to defeat this meas
ure, were appealing to all that is debasipg il
politics. The motion to substitute the minort,
report for that of the majority was defeated BY
yeas 3d. nays SO, Representative Roberts
Sehley and Major voting with the Republican,
The honesty of Representative Major in sup
porting the majority report, favoring the pass
age Of the bill, must be taken with allowance
Hardly had the bill reached the amendment
stage before he offered long substitute
providing for the abolishing Of the present sys
tenn of boards, and giving the Governor powe
TO appoint thirteen regents, one from each con
the cortrolof all the State institutions, includin
penitontiaries and reformatores. Not NOR
than seven Of these regents we're to be OF thu
same political party, and they were to meet i
Nav and November of each year. Represents
tive Major saw his scheme laid on the table b
60 yeays to so nays. He seized the opportunit
to get back in line with the opponents of tn
bill by declaiming against Republicans as ben
unfair and insincere in their desires for nor
partisan management Of the institutions. The
had the chance to prove their honesty, accordin
to his view of the situation. by voting for hi
substitute. AS they had thrown away his prom
ise of support, he would return to his party, an
vote against the engrossment Of the bill. But
did not matter. This last attempt to crush til
bill came up on a motion to strike out the enac
ing clause, made by Representative Peasant
1t received only 81 votes, the nays being 81 il
GLIDING Representatives Cushman, Iback Nil
lack Roberts Schley and Weyand from III
Democratic side. The bill was then engrosse,
The Senate used the greater part of the da
In considering the Jewett House bill requirn
corporations, companies, firms and persons e.
gagged In mining or manufacturing to nay the
employees weekly in lawful money. 1t is Of sir
liar tanor with that Of the Barrett measur